May I Charge My Garmin Zumo XT Battery In Cold Weather?

[JAS]

I have a Garmin Zumo XT. I bought it for ATVing, but I also use it on my e-bikes. Lately, when I am using it on my e-bike I run off the internal battery. The temperatures have been about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I have noticed that the battery doesn't last as long. I know that batteries are affected by colder temperatures.

May I safely use a portable power bank to run the Garmin Zumo XT in colder temperatures? The reason I ask is because someone suggested that it's not advised to charge lithium batteries below freezing. They stated that you can damage the battery chemistry, which may reduce the capacity even further.

One of my power banks is an Anker A1247.

Garmin zūmo® XT | Motorcycle GPS Navigator

The zūmo® XT is an all-terrain motorcycle navigator with an ultrabright, rain-resistant, glove-friendly 5.5” display and preloaded on and off-road mapping.

www.garmin.com

https://salesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000022681/en_US/000022681.pdf

 

[bluflaam777]

Never charge below freezing temperatures! EVER! Permanent damage will occur. Major loss in capacity will be permanent. Not just a few percent loss, but 50% or more.

 

[JAS]

Never charge below freezing temperatures! EVER! Permanent damage will occur. Major loss in capacity will be permanent. Not just a few percent loss, but 50% or more.

Thank you for the reply.

I am now wondering what my best option(s) are for navigating in the cold weather. I do have a Sonim XP8 smartphone. It will not power up with external power only. It needs a battery in it to work.

If I were to use a power bank with it, would the capacity loss affect both the power bank and the battery being charged?

 

[Dave D]

I suggest you contact Garmin and ask them.

I have a BMW motorbike fitted with a Nav V, which is made by Garmin, which charges from the cradle fitted to the bike by BMW, nowhere in any of the supplied literature does it say not to use below freezing.

 

[bluflaam777]

Thank you for the reply.

I am now wondering what my best option(s) are for navigating in the cold weather. I do have a Sonim XP8 smartphone. It will not power up with external power only. It needs a battery in it to work.

If I were to use a power bank with it, would the capacity loss affect both the power bank and the battery being charged?

I don't know how Li-ion cells function in the freezing temps, I just know that charging them when below freezing will basically kill them.

anecdotal- I live in a pretty temperate climate of the US. It can get hot or cold but for the most part it averages (over 12 months) around 68* F. It's 62* now with a high of around 72* predicted for today.

But I did spend a year with family in Idaho taking care of a family member. It got pretty cold, below freezing cold most of the winter. I didn't know about not charging a phone in freezing temps so while I was in an unheated shed futzing around, I kept my phone on a charger.
I killed the battery in it in about a week or two. It would work but would not hold a charge. I had to keep it plugged in just to make/receive a short call. That's when I was told about not charging in freezing temps.

Otherwise, I'm clueless.

 

[aznsx]

There is a section of this article specifically addressing Li-ion charging / temperature, in which it is stated:

"Many battery users are unaware that consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries cannot be charged below 0°C (32°F)."

BU-410: Charging at High and Low Temperatures

BU meta description needed...

batteryuniversity.com

 

[bluflaam777]

I wish I had known about this a few years ago. Having to buy a new phone when I didn't really have the cash to do so sucked. LOL

 

[DRW]

Manual states 5 to 131 degrees f is operating range.

Charging range is 32 to 113 degrees f.

zūmo XT Owner's Manual - Specifications

www8.garmin.com

Batteries are consumables, the function of the device they power is the value.